Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

SLC18B1

solute carrier family 18 member B1

translation score 0.59, read 2026-10-18; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
genetic association 0.44 (overall 0.27)0.44
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enhanced, including astrocytes; strongest in bergmann glia0.75
chemistry
Open Targets
reachable by antibody0.36
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
no papers tie it to Parkinson's yet1.00
pathways
Reactome
in no curated pathway0.00
proposal for SLC18B1, translation score 0.59

Knock down and overexpress SLC18B1 in astrocytes; measure a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq) and α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture.

Cell type
astrocytes
Direction
Both arms: public data does not say which way helps.
Molecular readout
a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq)
Functional readout
α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture
Rule-out
If neither arm moves a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq) by 20% or more against non-targeting and empty-vector controls, across three independent differentiations, the hypothesis is wrong.
Lab request
CRISPRi knockdown and lentiviral overexpression of SLC18B1 in iPSC-derived midbrain astrocytes; n = 3 differentiations; readouts: a transcriptome-wide state shift (bulk RNA-seq); α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture. Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. SLC18B1 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.17 (p 0.663) → +0.05 (p 0.894)receipt 1545
  2. SLC18B1 in astrocytes, braak+0.41 (p 0.277) → +0.11 (p 0.784)receipt 1544

Swarm cases

receipt 1545: SLC18B1 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.13 (p 0.615, n 18), 95% CI -0.36 to +0.56. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.13 (p 0.597, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.23 (p 0.360, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.01 to +0.21, sign flips 2; without severely affected donors +0.13 (p 0.615, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for SLC18B1 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

receipt 1544: SLC18B1 in astrocytes, braak

power
full sample +0.33 (p 0.182, n 18), 95% CI -0.16 to +0.69. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.33 (p 0.182, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
astrocytes share of nuclei vs axis -0.21 (p 0.413); controlling for it: +0.25 (p 0.315, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.23 to +0.46, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.33 (p 0.182, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for SLC18B1 in astrocytes.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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